'Fast and Furious' actor Paul Walker dies in car crash

Paul Walker, most famous for his role in the "Fast and Furious" movie series, died Saturday in a car crash north of Los Angeles. (Source: Sony Pictures/MGN)

Scenes from the devastating car accident in California that killed actor Paul Walker and the car's driver. (Source: KABC/CNN)

Scenes from the devastating car accident in California that killed actor Paul Walker and the car's driver. (Source: KABC/CNN)

VALENCIA, CA (RNN) - Paul Walker, the actor whose stardom catapulted with the Fast and Furious movie franchise, died Saturday in a car crash in Southern California. He was 40 years old.

His publicist, Ame Van Iden, confirmed Walker's death. His official Twitter and Facebook fan pages released a statement Saturday night that said the actor died in an accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.

"He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives," read the statement signed #TeamPW. "We appreciate your patience as we, too, are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news. Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time."

The celebrity news website TMZ reported Walker was in a Porsche that lost control and crashed into a tree.

A statement from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station said deputies responded to a fiery crash in Valencia about 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

"The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded, extinguished the fire and subsequently located two victims inside the vehicle. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene," the statement read.

The other person in the car has not been identified.

Walker had been filming the seventh movie in the "Fast and Furious" series before the crash took his life.

The original movie released in 2001, titled The Fast and the Furious, starred Walker alongside Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. Walker played Brian O'Conner, an undercover Los Angeles police officer assigned to infiltrate the world of underground street racing who eventually got pulled into the lifestyle.

The sixth movie was released during this year's Memorial Day weekend in May.

Walker had parts in notable films before joining the Fast and Furious franchise. He played in the popular teen-centric films Varsity Blues and She's All That as well as Pleasantville and a headlining role in Meet the Deedles.

Prior to that, he had bit TV parts in Touched By an Angel, The Young and the Restless,Who's the Boss, Charles in Charge and Diff'rent Strokes.

Walker began acting as a young child, and his first roles were in TV commercials. He was born Sept. 12, 1973 in Glendale, CA. He is survived by his 15-year-old daughter, Meadow.